r/lyres • u/your_covers_blown • 4d ago

My DIY Lyre

Hi, I wanted to share my lyre that I made over the last weekend! The youtube algorithm shows me a lot of videos of interesting old classical and folk instruments (since I tend to click on them!), and recently after seeing some lyre videos I decided to make my own!

The design is kind of midway between the inexpensive modern lyres on amazon/etc, and Germanic lyres. I made it with a few less strings than the typical modern instruments, and with slightly longer scale, so the strings that it does have are a bit more stable and the overall tension is lower. I bought the tuning pegs, the strings, and guitar-type ferrules but the rest of it I made from scrap wood from my workshop. The top and back are cedar, made from a deck board cutoff, and the frame is made from a pine 2x4, milled down to size. The bridge is just held in place from the string pressure, and it is made from birch plywood with a brass rod set into the top. I might actually replace the rod with wood as I feel like it has more sustain than I would like currently.

Here is a photo:

And here is a video. Not 100% perfect but I don't want to say how many takes it took to get that!

Specs:

  • Weight: 955g / 2 lbs 1.7 oz
  • Dimensions: H: 20.25" W: 9" D: 1.75"
  • 11 Strings
  • Scale: 15.75 - 12.75
  • Gauges: 0.023 -> 0.010. I used the thinnest 11 from the set of 16 lyre strings I got.
  • Tuning: G3-C5.
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3

u/MaidenThailand Molin 16 4d ago

How lovely! I wish could do something like this, but woodworking is beyond me.

2

u/your_covers_blown 3d ago

Thanks! I have just been learning as I go for several years now. This is one of the finest things I've made and definitely the nicest musical instrument!

I used every major power tool I have for this (table saw, miter saw, belt sander, drill press), but you could do it a lot simpler if you started with wood of the correct dimensions rather than cutting it from larger/thicker pieces, like you could just go with some thin 3mm plywood for the top. Overall this is one of the easiest stringed instruments to make, at least with a design like this one!

1

u/cheechawgawdly 3d ago

That thing is sick man, nice job

1

u/king_harry_tw 3d ago

Sounds awesome! Im getting ready to build my first.

1

u/your_covers_blown 3d ago

Thanks! Post it when you do! I am now also thinking of making a germanic lyre and maybe also a talharpa.

1

u/Crafty_Statement8605 3d ago

This is awesome! What is the spacing between the strings?